Bow-forming device



April 28, 1959 P. A. SPERRY BOW-FORMING names Filed Aug. 11; 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. M

April 28, 1959 P. A. SPERRY BOW-FORMING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1955 INVENTOR.

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April 28, 1959 P.\-A.SPYERIRY 9 BOW-FORMING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. 1% A AWWKMKvM kg; k

United States Patent BOW-FORMING DEVICE Paul A. Sperry, New Haven, Conn.

Application August 11, 1955, Serial No. 527,813 Claims. (Cl. 223--46) This invention relates to a bow-forming device, and more particularly to a device for forming a plurality of loops from one or more lengths of ribbon and holding said loops in assembled relation to permit the operator of the device to readily form a bow of desired ornamentation from such assembled loops.

justed to accommodate a different size ribbon;

Ornamental ribbon bows are in great demand for decorating articles such as gift boxes, floral displays, corsages, and the like, and persons skilled in the art of forming such bows by hand are comparatively rare. The difficulty in securing competent persons to tie such bows is particularly acute during certain seasons of the year, and as a result department stores, florists and other large users of ornamental bows are either forced to employ unskilled help, in which case the bows aflixed to the packages will present an unshapely, untidy appearance, or they must pay large amounts of overtime to whatever skilled help they are fortunate enough to obtain, thus greatly increasing their costs of operation.

Various attempts to perfect a bow-forming device have heretofore been made. However, such attempts have met with limited success because the resulting devices or apparatus were bulky, costly, and complex in design, required the talents of a skilled operator, or were ineffective in producing more than a single variety of decorative bows.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a device which is simple, compact, lightweight in construction, capable of being readily carried, and does not require the talents of a skilled operator to form a multiple variety of decorative bows.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the lforegoing character Which is adapted for use with ribbon of various widths and types and is capable of simultaneously using a plurality of ribbon strips to form bows having loops of different colors.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device wherein the operator may readily form a plurality of bows of uniform appearance with expending but a minimum of effort.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a bow-forming device is provided which comprises an elongated base, a ribbon-stripping block slidably mounted on said base for reciprocatory movement with respect thereto and adapted to strip predetermined lengths of ribbon from a spool of ribbon, and a stationary backing unit mounted adjacent one end of said base and adapted to cooperate with said stripping block to retain in assembled relation a plurality of loops of ribbon formed by said block upon reciprocatory movement of the latter.

The base is provided with manually adjusted means for limiting the extent of reciprocatory movement of the block and thereby regulate the size of the loops forming the bow.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the improved apparatus, showing a portion of the stripping block in section;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the improved apparatus;

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are sectional views taken along lines 66, 7-7, and 88, respectively, of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 99 01f Fig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the manually adjusted means carried on the base for limiting the reciprocatory movement of the stripping block.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, an improved bow-forming device 20 is shown which comprises an elongated base 21 having one or more disk-shaped containers 22a and 22b secured to one end of the base, a stationary backing unit 23 secured to the opposite end of the base 21, and a stripping block 24 slidably mounted on the base for reciprocatory movement between the containers 22a and 22b and unit 23. The base 21 in this instance has a portion 21a thereof provided with a planar top surface on which unit 23 is mounted. Extending downwardly from the end of base 21, to which unit 23 is secured, is a clamping bracket 25 provided with an adjustable screw type jaw 25' to permit the base to be readily attached to the edge of a table or desk.

Disposed at the opposite end of base 21 and extending downwardly therefrom is a supporting leg 26 which maintains the base in a substantially horizontal plane, 'see Fig. 5.

The stripping block 24, as seen in Fig. 7, is provided with an elongated, centrally disposed slot 27 which is open at opposite ends and extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base 21. The slot 27 is relatively narrow and is adapted to receive and have extend therethrough one or more stands or strips 28a and 28b of the spools of ribbons positioned within containers 22a and 22b, respectively. The ribbon strand upon leaving the spool is first passed through a slot 30 formed in the side of a container 22a or 22b, see Fig. 1, and then about an upright post 31a or 31b carried by block 24 adjacent the back side thereof. Subsequent to the ribbon strand passing about post 31a or 31b it is then inserted through the rear open end of the slot 27 and out through the front end of the slot for approximately 3 inches.

Mounted on the block 24 at substantially the center thereof is a pawl 32 which has one end 33 thereof adapted to protrude into a portion of slot 27 and to partially obstruct the same. The pawl is biased to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about pin 34 as an axis by a coil spring 35, see Fig. 3. The pin is positioned perpendicular to the direction of movement of the block 24. The tip 36 of the pawl portion 33 is cam-shaped so that it will permit the ribbon to be readily threaded through slot 27 in a direction toward unit 23, but will stop the ribbon from being withdrawn from the slot in a direction toward the containers 22a and 22b unless the exposed handle portion 37 of the pawl 32 is moved in a clockwise direction about the pin 34. The pawl 32 is manually actuated in a clockwise direction by the operator when the end of the ribbon strand is being initially inserted through slot 27. The effect of the pawl 3 in the operation of the device will become readily apparent hereinafter.

Mounted on block 24 is a gauge member 38 which has an elongated shank portion 39 aligned with the slot 27. Formed in one side of the shank portion 39 is an elongated linear slot 40 which, when the gauge member 33 is in one position of adjustment, as shown in Fig. 8, will have the open side thereof aligned with the upper edge of slot 27. When the gauge member is in this posi' tion of adjustment a ribbon of a given size, for example 14 inch in width, may be readily inserted through block 24. When, however, the gauge member 38 is adjusted by rotation thereof approximately 45 in a clockwise direction from that shown in Fig. 8 about the shank portion 39 as an axis, the slot 40 will have the open side thereof out of alignment with slot 27 and thus the height of the' slotted opening, through which the ribbon is inserted, will be reduced and permit only ribbon of a smaller width, for example /2 inch or less, to pass therethrough. It is desirable that the height of the slotted opening through which the ribbon extends be substantially the same as the width of the ribbon so that the loops of the bow, when formed, will be properly aligned with respect to one another and thereby facilitate the retention of the latter by the backing unit 23. One end of shank 39 of gauge member 38 is provided with an enlarged knurled head 41 which has a portion of the periphery thereof protruding from the top side of the block 24 and thereby enables the operator to readily adjust the member 38.

Extending laterally from opposite sides of block 24 is a pair of finger-engaging wing sections 42 which facilitate sliding the block along the base 21. Each wing section 42 is provided with a central depression 43 to facilitate fingering of the wing section by the operator.

Formed on the front side of the block 24 adjacent unit 23 and spaced downwardly from the top surface of said block is a forwardly protruding, crosswise extending ledge or shoulder 44, see Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The function of the ledge 44 will become apparent hereinafter. Formed on the underside of block 24 is a U-shaped portion 24a which subtends and embraces the underside of base 21. Carried by the bight segment of the portion 24a of block 24 is a pair of spaced rollers 44, which are disposed within a track or way 45 formed on the underside of base 21. The rollers 44 and way 45 insure straight line movement of the block 24 with respect to base 21. In addition, U-shaped portion 24a is provided with an elongated slot 46, see Fig. 7, which is adapted to permit the block to move unobstructed past a stop assembly 47 carried on the base.

Assembly 47, as seen more clearly in Fig. 10, comprises a plurality of relatively spaced, substantially parallel pins 48 which are arranged longitudinally on base 21, see Fig. 1, and have the axes of said pins disposed perpendicular with respect to the direction of movement of. said block 24. Each pin 48, as seen more clearly in Fig. 10, has a reduced center portion 50 which is adapted at all times to be disposed within an elongated opening 52 formed in a retaining bar 51, the latter being secured to the underside of base 21. The bar 51 is provided with an opening 52 for each pin, each opening 52, in turn, being in registration with an aperture formed in base portion 21a. Each opening 52 in bar 51 has communicating therewith a small, transversely extending opening 53 which is adapted to accommodate therein a coil spring 54. When the bar 51 is positioned on the underside of base portion 21a, the surface of the bar 51, at which the openings 53 terminate, engages a depending stiffening flange 55 formed on the base portion 21a, and thus each spring 54 is entrapped within opening 53 and yieldably engages the flange 55 and the center portion 50 of pin 48 disposed within the communicating opening 52. Spring 54 provides enough friction for the pin 48 contacted thereby to enable the latter to remain in either a manually adjusted extended or retracted position. The bar 51 is secured at each end thereof to the base portion 21a by screws 56 or other suitable fastening means. The length of each pin 48 is greater than the combined thicknesses of the bar 51 and the upper surface 21a of the base 21. Thus, when the pin is adjusted to a retracted or inoperative position, the lower end 48:: of the pin protrudes downwardly from the underside of the bar 51 and the upper or opposite end thereof 48b is flush or slightly recessed with respect to the top surface of base portion 21a. The slot 46, heretofore mentioned in the portion 24a of the block 24, is of sufficient depth to permit the block 24 to slide freely past the lower ends 48a of the pins 48 when the latter are in a retracted position. The pins 48 in this instance are arranged in a row, parallel to the direction of movement of block 24 on base 21, and are uniformly spaced with respect to one another.

Inscribed on the top surface of base portion 21a, adjacent certain pins 48 disposed within the row, are indicia A which indicate the length of the loops 77 to be formed in the finished bow upon reciprocation of the block 24 between backing unit 23 and a selected pin. Thus, when a given pin is manipulated by the operator so that the upper end 48]; thereof protrudes upwardly from the top surface of the base portion 21a, the movement of the stripping block 24 from unit 23 toward the spool containers 22a and 2212 will be limited.

The backing unit 23, see Fig. 9, comprises in this instance a block member 57 secured in a fixed position to the upper side of base 21 and adjacent the end thereof from which clamping bracket 25 depends. Formed in member 57 is a pair of elongated, relatively spaced, parallel seating bores 58, which have the axes thereof disposed in aplane above and parallel to the top surface of base portion 21a. The open end of each bore terminates-in the side of the member 57 adjacent the stripping block 24. Positioned within each bore 58 is a plunger 60' provided with an enlarged exposed head 61 at one end thereof. The opposite end of the plunger is concealed within the bore and contacted by a coil spring 62 compressed within the bore 58 by the plunger. Secured to the underside of block member 57, between base portion 21a and said member, is a relatively flat piece 63 having formed on the side thereof, adjacent block 24, a pair of elongated, relatively spaced, substantially parallel tongues 64 with the outer ends thereof turned upwardly to form flanges 65, each flange serving as a stop for the enlarged head 61 of each plunger. It is to be noted that the flange 65 for each tongue is angularly positioned at approximately 89 with respect to the remainder of the tongue and that the surface of the upper edge of each flange is rounded for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

Adjustably mounted on the upper side of unit member 57 is a plate 67 which is of relatively flat, thin material and has pairs of relatively spaced parallel tongues 70 and- 71 formed on opposite sides thereof. Each pair of tongues is of substantially the same configuration as the tongues 64 heretofore described as being formed on the piece 63. The free ends of the pairs of tongues 70 and 71 are bent downwardly to form flanges 72 and 73, respectively. As seen more particularly in Fig. 9, the flanges 72 extend downwardly a greater distance than flanges 73, and therefore the lower edges of flanges 72 are positioned closer to the upper edges of flanges 65 formed on piece 63. Thus, flanges 72, when in cooperation with flanges 65, are adapted to be used with a narrower type of ribbon such as /2 inch width, and flanges 73, on the other hand, are adapted for use with flanges 65 when wider ribbon inch width) is being employed in forming the bows.

The configuration and angular disposition of the lower edge 74 of each pair of flanges 72 and 73 are the same asheretofore described for flanges 65. Plate 67 is secured to the upper surface of member 57 by a bayonet type of pin 68, see Fig. 5, which, when rotated a quarter of a turn in a counterclockwise direction, permits the pin and plate to be raised manually or automatically relative to member 57. When, on the other hand, the plate has been properly positioned on the block 57 and the operator exerts a downward force on pin 68 and rotates the same a quarter of a turn in a clockwise direction, the plate and member will be locked in assembled relation. When no loops 77 of the bow are being retained by the unit 23 in a manner as shown in Fig. 1, the enlarged heads 61 of plungers 60 will abut the flanges 65 of piece 63 and the flanges 72 or 73 of plate 67. When, however, the bow loops 77 are retained by unit 23, upper and lower edge portions of the loops will be positively gripped between the pairs of cooperating flanges of piece 63 and plate 67 and the enlarged heads 61 of the plungers 60. The plungers 60 may be retracted into the bores 58 upon the ledge 44 formed on the front face of block 24 striking the enlarged heads 61, as seen more clearly in Fig. 9.

In operating the device the operator initially threads one or more strands of ribbon through the slot 27 alone, or the combination of slot 27 and aligned slot 40 of block 24, while the pawl 32 is being manipulated in a clockwise direction until at least 3 inches of ribbon protrude from the front face of the block. The operator then moves the block 24 toward unit 23 While the free protruding end of the ribbon is swung to the right or left of center until the ledge 44 of the block 24 contacts the enlarged heads 61 of the plunger 60 and causes the latter to be retracted within the bores 58. Upon plunger 60 being retracted by ledge 44 the free end portion of the ribbon strand has the opposite elongated edges thereof urged toward one another by the cam surfaces of flanges 65 and 72, until the edges of the ribbon clear such flanges. Upon the block 24 then being moved in an opposite direction toward the containers 22a and 22b, the free end portion of the ribbon will be held between one of the enlarged heads of the plungers 60 and the flanges of plate 67 and piece 63 cooperating with said head. As the block 24 is moved further in a direction toward the containers 22a and 22b, the pawl 32 carried by the block 24 will be readily forced in a clockwise direction and permit the block to move freely along the strand or strands of ribbon extending from the spools accommodated by the containers 22a and 22b. Before the operator initially moves the block 24 in a direction toward containers 22a and 22b from unit 23, one of the stop pins 48 is extended by the operator pushing up on the bottom end 48a of the pin. Thus, once the desired pin 48 has been extended, as indicated, the operator will move the block 24 away from unit 23 until it strikes such pin 48. Upon the operator moving the block in the opposite direction, the pawl 32 on the block will cause a length of ribbon, .equal substantially to the distance between unit 23 and the selected pin 48, to be stripped from the spool. As the block 24 commences to move toward unit 23, the length of ribbon between the unit and the front face of the block 24, when the latter is contacting the selected stop pin 48, will automatically bend back upon itself and form a loop extending on the opposite side of the center line of travel of the block from that of the initial free end portion of the ribbon previously gripped. A successive loop extending in an opposite direction with respect to the previously formed loop will be produced upon the operator reciprocating the block 24 between the unit 23 and the selected stop pin. The number of loops to be formed in the finished bow will depend upon the number of times the operator moves the block 24 between the backing unit 23 and the selected stop pin 48.

After the desired number of loops has been alternately formed, the operator ties the loops together at their centers by threading a piece of string, ribbon, or the like,

see Fig. 3. It will be noted that the side of the unit member 57 adjacent the opening is cut back at 76 so as to conform to the shape of the opening 75 and thereby facilitate threading of the tie string through the opening 75 and about the centers of the loops 77. Subsequent to the loops being tied together, the operator severs the strand of ribbon which is about to be looped, and then turns the bayonet type of pin 68 a quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction, whereupon plate 67 is raised automatically from member 57 and the upper edges of the assembled loops are released from between the enlarged head 61 and the pair of flanges 72 or 73. In instances, however, where the plate 67 does not raise automatically by a spring upon the bayonet type pin 68 being rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the operator must manually raise the plate after the pin 68 is in release position, until the flanges 72 or 73 clear the upper edges of the assembled loops. The operator then grasps the free upper edges of the assembled loops and moves the latter as a unit upwardly until the lower edges of the assembled loops are free from between the enlarged heads 61 and the upturned flanges 65 of piece 63.

If desired, the operator may vary the length of each successive loop of a particular bow by merely manipulating a diflferent stop pin 48 upon each movement of the stripping block 24 away from the backing unit 23. In addition, as heretofore mentioned, two or more strands of ribbon may be simultaneously threaded through the block 24 to produce a bow having variegated colors.

The improved bow-forming machine may, if desired, be simplified in construction still further than that shown without seriously afiecting proper operation of the machine; for example, the spool containers 22a and 22b may be omitted and the ribbon spools mounted in any desir able location adjacent the machine, and also the stop assembly could be modified so as to comprise merely a plurality of holes formed in the base 21 and arranged in linear spaced relation longitudinally of the base and a removable peg adapted to be selectively positioned within one of the holes.

Thus it will be seen that a simple, compact, and inexpensive bow-forming device has been provided which is readily adapted for use by an unskilled operator to produce bows having a highly esthetic and unique appearance. In addition, the improved device enables the operator to simultaneously use two or more ribbons, thereby resulting in a bow having variegated colors.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming and retaining aplurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising an elongated base, a unit aflixed to said base, and a slidable ribbon-stripping element mounted on said base for movement toward and away from said unit; said element, when moved in a direction toward said unit, stripping a predetermined length of ribbon and effecting actuation of such ribbon length into a loop-forming position, said element cooperating with said unit to effect engagement thereof with the ribbon loop formed by the element prior to cooperating with said unit and retain the latter ribbon loop in a fixed position upon relative movement of said element in a direction away from said unit.

2. A machine for forming and retaining a plurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising an elongated base, a unit aflixed to said base, ribbon spool supporting member mounted on said base in spaced relation with respect to said unit, and a slidable ribbon-stripping element mounted on said base for re.- ciprocatory movement between said unit and saidsupthrough an opening 75 formed in the base portion 21a, 75 porting member to efiect gathering of successively formed ribbon loops at said unit, said element, when moved in a direction toward said unit, effecting stripping a predetermined length of ribbon from the ribbon spool supported by said element and actuating said ribbon length into a loop-forming position, said element contacting said unit to eflect actuation of the latter into gripping relation with the ribbon loop disposed at the side of said element adjacent said unit and formed by the element prior to contacting said unit, said unit retaining the gripped ribbon loop in a fixed position upon relative movement of said element away from said unit in a direction toward said supporting member.

3. A machine for forming and retaining a plurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising an elongated base, a unit aflixed to said base, and a slidable ribbon-stripping element mounted on said base for reciprocatory movement relative to said unit to efiect gathering of successively formed ribbon loops at said unit, said element being provided with a passageway through which extends a length of ribbon, said element, when moved in a direction toward said unit, eifecting stripping a predetermined length of ribbon and actuating said ribbon length into a loop-forming position adjacent said unit, said element contacting and actuating said unit into gripping engagement with the stripped ribbon loop formed by said element prior to contacting said unit and projecting from the end of said passageway adjacent said unit, said unit retaining the gripped ribbon loop in a fixed position upon movement of said element away from said unit.

4. A machine for forming and retaining a plurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising an elongated base, a unit aflixed to one end of said base, a slidable ribbon-stripping element mounted on said base for reciprocatory movement relative to said unit to effect gathering of successively formed ribbon loops at said unit, and a plurality of relatively spaced means adjustably mounted on said base, each of said means being disposed at a different distance from said unit and adapted, when in one position of adjustment, to restrict reciprocatory movement of said element on said base away from said unit; said element, when moved in a direction toward said unit, eflecting stripping a predetermined length of ribbon and actuating such ribbon length into a loop forming position, said element cooperating with said unit to effect engagement thereof with the ribbon loop formed by said element prior to cooperating with said unit and effect retention of said engaged loop in a fixed position adjacent said unit upon movement of said element away from said unit toward said selected means.

5. A machine for forming and retaining a plurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising an elongate base, a ribbon spool mounted adjacent one end of said base, a ribbon-stripping block slidably mounted on said base for reciprocatory movement with respect thereto, including means adapted to strip a predetermined length of ribbon from said spool and to form such ribbon length into a loop upon movement of said block in one relative direction, and means against which a plurality of ribbon loops are gathered, said latter means being atfixed to said base in spaced relation with respect to the position at which said ribbon spool is mounted and being contacted by said block, when the latter is moving in only one relative direction, to effect gripping engagement with respect to the formed ribbon loops gathered thereagainst upon movement of said block in an opposite direction.

6. A machine for forming and retaining a plurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising an elongated base, a unit afflxed to one end of said base, said unit including relatively spaced flange portions disposed to one side thereof and a gripping member biased into abutting engagement with said flange portions and against which a plurality of ribbon loops are formed, and a ribbon-stripping block slidably mounted on said base for reciprocatory movement with respect thereto and adapted, when moved in a direction toward said unit, to strip a predetermined length of ribbon from a spool of ribbon carried on said base and actuate such ribbon length into a loop-forming position; said block, when moved in said direction, contacting said gripping member and actuating the latter out of contact with said flange portions, whereby the ribbon loop formed by said block prior to contacting said gripping member is disposed intermediate said flange portions and automatically gripped between said member and said flange portions and held in a fixed position upon movement of said block away from said unit.

7. A machine for forming and retaining a plurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising a base, a ribbon-stripping block slidably mounted on the base, a longitudinal passageway formed in said stripping block and adapted to receive therewithin a length of ribbon, adjustable means carried on said block for frictionally engaging the ribbon disposed within said passageway, a backing unit affixed to said base, upper and lower flanges operatively connected to said base and partially overlying the face of said backing unit adjacent said block, a gripping member carried within said backing unit and biased into abutting relation with said flanges, and protruding means formed on said stripping block for contacting said gripping member and forcing the successively formed ribbon loops to gather between said gripping member and said retaining flanges.

8. A machine for forming and retaining 'a plurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising an elongated base, means extending from said base for affixing the latter to a support, a backing unit aflixed to said base, a ribbon-stripping block slidably mounted on said base for reciprocatory movement with respect to said unit, a longitudinal passageway formed in said stripping block for accommodating a length of ribbon, adjustable means carried by said block and disposed within said passageway for applying frictional force to the ribbon accommodated within said passageway, a protruding means formed on said block and extending transversely from opposite sides of said passageway, a backing unit aflixed to said base adjacent one end thereof, upper and lower ribbon-retaining flanges partially overlying the face of said unit adjacent said block, the distance between the lower edge of the upper retaining flange and the upper edge of the lower retaining flange being greater than the thickness of said protruding means whereby the latter is adapted to enter the space between said upper and lower retaining flanges and contact said unit to effect retention of a predetermined length of ribbon in loop-forming position by said flanges.

9. A machine for forming and retaining a plurality of oppositely disposed loops of ribbon, said machine comprising an elongated base, a ribbon-spool support mounted on said base adjacent one end thereof, a backing unit aflixed to said base adjacent the opposite end thereof, a first pair of relatively spaced flanges extending angularly from said base and overlying a portion of the surface of said unit adjacent said spool support, an adjustable plate carried on said base and being provided with selective pairs of relatively spaced flanges, one pair of flanges being of greater extension than the other pair, only one pair of said flanges being in coextensive relation with said first pair of flanges when said plate is in a selected position of adjustment, a pair of gripping members mounted on the surface of said unit adjacent said spool support and biased into contacting relation with the coextensively positioned pairs of flanges, a ribbon-stripping block slidably mounted on said base for reciprocatory linear movement with respect thereto intermediate said unit and said spool-support, said block being provided with an elongated passageway through which passes a predetermined length of ribbon for the ribbon spool carried by said support, an adjustable means carried on said block and having a portion thereof protruding into said passageway and contacting the ribbon length disposed within said passageway for permitting passage of the ribbon therethrough only in a direction from said spool-support to said unit, a plurality of adjustable, relatively spaced, selective stop means mounted on said base intermediate said unit and said spool-support and in the path of movement of said block, each stop means being disposed at a different distance from said unit, a selected stop means, when in one position of adjustment, being engageable by said block and limiting reciprocatory movement of the latter to between said unit and said selected stop means, and protruding means formed on the surface of said block, adjacent said unit, and disposed on opposite sides of said passageway and extending between said coextensively positioned flanges and contacting said gripping members and actuating the latter out of engagement with said flanges, when said block is moving in a direction toward said unit and inserting a predetermined length of ribbon, carried by said block, between said coextensively positioned flanges and one of said gripping members whereby such predetermined length of ribbon is automatically gripped therebetween and retained in a fixed position upon relative movement of said block away from said unit.

10. The machine recited in claim 3 including a manually adjustable ribbon gauge member mounted on said element, said gauge member comprising an elongated portion disposed in aligned relation with respect to the passageway formed in said element, said portion being rotatable about its longitudinal axis and provided with a longitudinal slot adapted to communicate with and extend substantially the length of said passageway, when said gauge member is in one position of rotational adjustment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,300,423 McNeil Nov. 3, 1942 2,495,130 Pilliner Jan. 17, 1950 2,526,494 Holben Oct. 17. 1950 

